Between U.S. and China, South Korea in bind over missile defense

March 17, 2015 9:27 AM

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SEOUL (Reuters) - The potential deployment of a sophisticated U.S. air defense system in South Korea to counter the North's missile threat is proving a headache for Seoul as it tries to walk a fine line between its closest security ally Washington and its biggest trade partner China.

Since June, U.S. military officials have said the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system was needed in South Korea given Pyongyang's growing missile arsenal, although there has been no formal proposal from Washington.